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Are patients talking to their physicians about AIDS?
B Gerbert1, B T Maguire, T J Coates
1Division of Behavioral Sciences, University of California-San Francisco, School of Dentistry.
American Journal of Public Health
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Physicians rarely discuss acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention with patients, despite most adults visiting a doctor within five years. Patients often initiate these crucial health conversations.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention education is critical for public health.
- Physician-patient communication significantly impacts health behaviors and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the extent of physician-provided education and counseling on AIDS and its prevention.
- To understand patient experiences with discussing AIDS in clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide telephone survey of 2000 randomly selected US adults was conducted in summer 1988.
- The survey achieved a 75 percent response rate, gathering data on healthcare interactions and discussions about AIDS.
Main Results:
- 94% of respondents had seen a physician in the prior five years.
- Only 15% of patients had discussed AIDS with their doctor, despite no stated objection to the topic.
- In 72% of cases, patients initiated AIDS-related conversations with their physicians.
Conclusions:
- Physician-initiated discussions about AIDS prevention are infrequent in the United States.
- Patient-centered communication is essential, as patients are more likely to initiate discussions on sensitive health topics like AIDS.